u/Raidicus

I've read many times that Maturin is a composite of many different characters, but never heard Archibald Menzies mentioned. Reading his biography, I think fans of the series will see why I've made this post.

A little about Archibald:

• Scottish, not Irish, but still an affiliated territory with likely conflicted views of English rule and their own independence
• Surgeon, botanist, and naturalist
• Lived 1754-1842
• During his naval expeditions, he assembled the most extensive collection of extra-European lichen specimens of the 18th century
• Studied botany but was encouraged to study medicine
• Qualified as surgeon in Royal Navy, served aboard HMS Nonsuch, HMS DIscovery, in the west indies, and so on.
• He became an MD in 1799 and so was both an MD and rated surgeon during part of his naval career
• Discovered many plants which were named after him, and his collections of specimens are still around today
• Menzies wife tragically died before him in 1836, although they had no children.
• Knew Sir Joseph Banks (naturalist) quite well, who Sir Joseph Blaine was loosely modeled after.

Pretty surprising that I've never heard of Menzies and perhaps someone has made this connection before, but definitely find the parallels compelling. One wonders whether, while writing Sir Joseph Banks biography, POB ran across Menzies and decided to include some of his traits in Maturin.